Nursing unit assembling tool



June 30, 1953 1'. R. BAXTER NURSING UNIT ASSEMBLING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1950 INVENTOR.

June 30, 1953 T. R. BAXTER 2,643,449

NURSING UNIT ASSEMBLING TOOL Filed July 1, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patentecl June 30, 1953 NURSING UNIT ASSEMBLING TOOL Thomas R. Baxter, Mount Vernon, Ohio, assignor to Shcllmar- Produc Corporation, Chi 111-, a corporation of Delaware Application July 1, 1950, Serial'No. 171,742

Claims. (Cl. 29-4355) This invention relates to nursing devices and is particularly concerned with improvements in a tool or device adapted to be used in connection with the assembly of a nursing unit.

It is a general object of the invention to pro vide a device for use in assembling a nursingunit of the type disclosed in the copending application for a Nursing Unit and Method and Apparatus for Assembling the Same, by Walter Dorwin Teague et al., Serial No. 41,554, filed July 30, 1948, Patent No. 2,604,222, dated July 22, 1952.

Nursing units of the character disclosed in the application referred to comprise a flexible disposal bottle which is assembled in communicating relation with a nursing nipple and held connected to the base thereof by a clamping ring over which the marginal portions, of the mouth of the bottle are reversely folded and held in encompassing relation therewith by a reversible skirt depending from the base of the nipple. In assembling these units it is desirable to employ a tool for opening the mouth of the bottle which is initially in flattened condition and thereafter assembling the same with the clamping ring preparatory to attaching thereto the nipple which clamps the margins of the bottle against the ring. Such a tool reduces the possibility of contamination of the internal walls of the bottle which subsequently come in contact with the nursing fluid when the unit is in fully assembled and filled condition.

A tool which is suitable for the use described is disclosed in accompanying application for a Nurseing Unit Assembling Tool, by Thomas E. Piazze, Serial No. 171,695, filed concurrently herewith and it is a specific objectof the present invene tion to provide improvements in an assembling tool of the character disclosed in such application.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple, easilyoperated and efiicient device for expanding the mouth of a disposable nursing bottle and assembling the same with the marginal portions adjacent the mouth thereof in reversely folded relation on a clamping ring or fixture adapted to receive in encompassing rela tion a reversible skirt on the base of a nursing nipple.

It is another object of the invention to provide an assembling tool of the type described wherein a tubular mouth expanding member having a slotted side wall is provided with a clamping disk member which is positioned in telescoping relation within one end thereof and which is connected in spring pressed sliding re- 2. lation therewith to provide a limited range of movement between the members.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a' tool for use in assembling a nursing unit ofthe type described wherein an inner clamping disk is arranged within a tubular outer bottle top expanding member which is provided with a peripherally extending slot in the side wall thereof permitting the same to be inserted into the mouth of the bottle and wherein the inner clamping disk is slidable on an axially extending connecting pin secured at one end to the top of the outer member and provided at its other end with an abutment formation limiting the movement of the clamping disk and wherein the movement of the clamping disk within the outer member is resisted by a compression spring surrounding said connecting pin.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the nursing unit and the assembling tool which are shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a nursing unit of the type with which an assembling tool embodging the present invention is adapted to be use Fig. 2 is a section taken generally on the lines 2--2 of Fig. l to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an assembling tool incorporating the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the inner clamping ring forming part of the nursing unit when assembled;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a suitable stand for supporting a nursing unit during the assembling and filling operations;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the assembling tool with the bottle positioned thereon;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of positioning the bottle on the clampin ring; and

Fig. 8 is a section illustrating the bottle in assembled relation on the clamping ring just prior to the removal of the assembling tool.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a nursing unit of the character here involved, an assembling tool or bottle mouth expanding device which is adapted to be used in connection with the assembling of the illustrated nursing unit and the manner of using the latter in the assembling operation.

The nursing unit comprises a flexible disposal bottle member It, a nipple unit H and a connecting clamping ring or fixture I2. The bottle II; is supplied to the user in the form of an endless tube divided by longitudinally spaced cross seals into a plurality of connected flattened tubular sections each having a transversely extending seal 3 at one end, the bottles being separated from each other by cutting along the proper side of the successive transverse seals The nursing nipple H is provided with a base portion I4 having a reversible skirt I5 integrally formed therewith. The clamping ring I2 consists of a relatively short tubular section of rigid material which is provided adjacent its top edge I6 with an outwardly directed peripheral flange 51, the outer diameter of the flange II being somewhat greater than the outer diameter of the body of the clamping ring I2 and being also greater than the normal inner diameter of the skirt portion I5 of the nipple II when in downwardly extending relation to the base I4 of the latter.

When the illustrated nursing unit is assembled for use, the marginal portions I8 of the bottle IE3 adjacent the open mouth thereof are positioned in reversely folded relation over the clamping ring I2 with the body of the bottle I extending downwardly through the ring I2. The nursing fluid is placed in the bottle I 0 when it is assembled with the clamping ring I2. The nipple I I is positioned with the base I4 adjacent the top edges is of the ring I2 and the reversible skirt is turned from an upwardly extending position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 to a downwardly projecting position in encompassing relation to the margins I8 of the bottle I0 and clamping the same against the outer peripheral wall of the clamping ring I2. An external clamping ring (not shown) may be provided exteriorly of the skirt I5 for additionally clamping the skirt I5 against the margins I8 of the bottle I3 to insure a leak-proof connection between the bottle I0 and the nipple II.

The assembling tool or bottle mouth expanding device is employed in connection with the assembling of the margins I 8 of the bottle member I!) with the clamping ring I2. The clamping ring I2 is supported during the assembling operation on a suitable stand which may be of the character shown in Fig. 5. Such a stand comprises a suitable base 2I, upstanding frame members 22 and a top supporting ring member 23 having a central aperture 24 defined by an upstanding shoulder formation 25. The body of the clamping ring I2 is positioned exteriorly of the shoulder 25 and rests on the supporting ring member 23.

The assembling tool 20 comprises a tubular section or body portion 26 having a top cap member 27 secured thereon by a flanged portion 28. The body 25 is provided in its outer wall with a slot 29 extending a substantial portion of the periphery thereof. The lower edge 30 of the slot 23 is spaced a predetermined distance from the bottom end of the body 26 providing thereon a marginal portion "3|, the exterior diameter of which is somewhat greater than the normal diameter of the mouth of the bottle with which the tool is adapted to be used. The slot 29 is of substantial depth to permit the bottom portion of the tool to be inserted in the slightly open mouth of the bottle as illustrated in Fig. .3 so that when the tool is positioned as shown and the mouth of the bag is held in engagement with the peripheral wall of the body 26, at a point opposite the slot 29, the bottle III may be pulled into axially extending relation with the body 26 to position the marginal portions I8 of the bottle II] in expanded relation on the end portion 3| of the body 26 as shown in Fig. 6.

A clamping disk 32 of relatively flat material is mounted in sliding relation within the tubular body 26. The clamping disk 32 is provided with a central aperture 33 (Fig. 8) in which there is secured at one end a relatively short sleeve 34. The sleeve 34 extends upwardly within the body 26 and is received in sliding relation on a depending guide pin 35. The guide pin 35 is secured at its upper end 36 to the cap 21 on the tubular body 26 and is provided at its lower end with an enlarged head 33 which limits the outward movement of the clamping disk 32 relative to the bottom end of the tubular body 26. The guide pin 35 is provided at its upper end with a shouldered portion 39 which functions as an abutment stop cooperating with the sleeve 34 on the clamping plate 32 to limit the movement of the latter inwardly of the tubular body 26. A compression spring 40 surrounds the sleeve 34 and urges the clamping plate 32 toward the lower limit of its movement. The clamping plate 32 is oifset at its margins to provide a flange 4! which is adapted to be engaged over the top edge I6 of the clamping ring I2. The flange 4| and the peripheral shoulder 42 which con nects the same to the central or body portion of the plate 32 forms an outwardly and downwardly opening peripheral groove on the edge of the plate 32.

The assembling tool or device 20 is used in the following manner: with the mouth of the bottle open slightly by relative movement of the top margins IB the lower portion 3| of the device is inserted into the bottle mouth. The one side of the bottle extending into the slot 29 and the other side extending over the bottom portion of the device. The bottle I0 is then pulled to bring it into axial alignment with the tubular body 26 to position the marginal portions I8 in expanded relation around the peripheral edge 3I of the same as shown in Fig. 6. With the bottle in this position on the tool 20 the body thereof is inserted within clamping ring I2 and the aperture 24 of the supporting stand. The tool 20 is moved downwardly to bring the flange M of the clamping plate 32 into position above the top edge I6 of the clamping ring I2. Pressure is then applied to the top 21 of the tool to move the body portion 26 downwardly relative to the support ring I2 to place the marginal portions I8 of the bottle II] in reversely folded relation around the clamping'ring I2 as shown in solid lines in Fig. 8. The pressure on the tool 20 is then relived to permit the plate 32 and the tubular body 26 to assume their normal positions and the tool is removed from engagement with the bottle top thereafter. The nursing fluid is placed in the bottle I0 and the nipple II is secured thereon as previously described to complete the assembly of the nursing unit.

I claim:

1. A device for opening and expanding the mouth of a receptacle which is characterized by being formed of relatively flexible sheet material, said device comprising a tubular body member having an open end and provided with a peripherally extending slot in the outer wall thereof, an inner clamping disk member slidably positioned in the open end of the tubular member, said disk member having an aperture and a depending guide pin extending from the other end of the tubular member and through the aperture in the clamping disk member.

2. A device for opening and expanding the mouth of a receptacle which is characterized by being formed of relatively flexible sheet material, said device comprising a tubular body member having one end open and a cap on the other end thereof, said tubular member being provided with a peripherally extending slot in the outer wall thereof, an inner clamping member slidably positioned in the open end of said tubular member, said clamping member having a radial- 1y projecting flange formation at the outer edge thereof and a central aperture, a guide pin depending centrally from the cap on the other end of the tubular member and extending through the aperture in the clamping member.

3. A device for opening and expanding the mouth of a flexible nur ing bottle comprising an outer tubular member and an inner clamping disk, said outer tubular member being open at one end and having a peripherally extending slot in the side wall at a predetermined distance from said open end, said inner clamping disk having a central aperture, a depending guide pin axially secured in said outertubular member and extending through the central aperture in said inner clamping disk, said guide pin having an abutment head thereon limiting the outward movement of the said inner clamping disk and a compression spring mounted on said guide pin and urging said inner clamping disk toward the outer limit of its movement thereon.

4. A device for opening and expanding the mouth of a flexible nursing bottle comprising an outer tubular member and an inner clamping member, said outer member being open at one end and having a peripherally extending slot in the side wall at a predetermined distance from said open end, a guide rod axially positioned in said outer member and connecting said outer member and said inner clamping member, said guide rod being secured to one of said members and in sliding relation with the other of said members, and stop means limiting the relative movement of said members.

5. A device for opening and expanding the mouth of a flexible nursing bottle comprising an outer tubular member and an inner clamping member, said outer member being open at one end and having a peripherally extending slot in the side wall at a predetermined distance from said open end, a guide pin axially positioned in said outer member, said guide pin being secured to one of said members and connected in sliding relation with the other of said members, means limiting the relative movement of said members and a compression spring mounted on said guide pin urging said members toward the outer limit of their movement relative to each other.

6. A device for opening and expanding the mouth of a flexible nursing bottle comprising an outer tubular member having an open end and provided with a slot in the wall thereof extending a substantial distance around the periphery of the same, an inner clamping disk having a marginal portion offset to form a radially extending flange thereon and movable in telescoping relation Within said outer tubular member, said inner clamping disk having an aperture, an axially extending guide pin secured in said outer tubular member and projecting through the aperture in said clamping disk, said guide pin being provided with an abutment stop on the outer end thereof limiting the outward movement of said inner clamping disk, a compression spring surrounding said guide pin and urging said inner clamping disk toward the outer end of said guide in and stop means on said guide pin limiting the inward movement of said inner clamping disk.

THOMAS R. BAXTER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,648,436 Allen Nov. 8, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 68,882 Sweden Sept. 29, 1928 

